Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast

The first time I heard this phrase was in Wyoming where I was taking a Wilderness First Responders course or WFR (woofer) for short. In our fast paced society we place high value on anything that gives us back more time. More time to get more done. We are forever multi-tasking, training for it like an Olympic sport. But, why? Where do we get the idea that more is better? Where does this need to achieve as much as possible in a day come from?

Maybe you're like me and you're caught up in the rat race and not exactly sure how you got here. Welcome. My name is Tori and I'm about to jump off this spinning hamster wheel. Wanna come?

In the WFR class I mentioned above, I was learning that in order to move quickly and efficiently it was best to take a moment, slow down, and breathe. When I am calm and level headed I will make better decisions, hopefully resulting in a swift and effective medical response. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

Another setting I've heard the term used is in CrossFit while practicing double unders. This is where the jump rope cycles twice under your feet. The trick to learning this sometimes cursed/sometimes glorious movement is to jump high. For me that meant slowing down. When I looked around at my fellow fanatical friends doing this incredible movement I only saw speed. What I didn't see was the time and effort they'd put into training the movement. I'll never forget the moment it clicked. The coach told me to "slow down." It seemed counter intuitive at the time, but it worked!

Do you crave peace, quiet, stillness, and alone time? I can hear a communal exhale from all of the mama's of small children and the men who feel stuck in the current season.

Wilderness ministry beckons you to come away. Can you hear it?

"Slow down," it whispers.

Everything won't fall apart if you take a break.

It can be beneficial to step back, take a deep breath, and re-evaluate. Maybe your mind needs peace and quiet to re-center your focus. Maybe your soul needs to be refreshed. It's likely your heart is weary from the cares of this world.

"Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." Luke 5:16

I believe our Lord grew weary being constantly surrounded by people. He knew where His source of strength came from. The Father sustained Him. It was His relationship with the Father that kept him moving forward to the cross, His purpose.

Your relationship with Jesus, the Father, and Holy Ghost is vital. Your connection to biblical community can be life giving. I firmly believe that we are made to withdraw to quiet places just as Jesus did, and instructed us to do, to pray.

Come away with us. It's like stepping into the dark of night after being inside a very bright place for a while. Just as it takes some time for your eyes to adjust, your heart, mind, and soul will adjust to the tune of the Father in His creation. It's a beautiful thing.

What are you waiting for?